Gaining Ground in Rankings

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Several programs within the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas are rising quickly toward the top of the U.S. News and World Report rankings of America’s Best Graduate Schools 2007.

The industrial engineering program was ranked 26^th in the nation, while the computer engineering program took a 20-point leap over last year’s ranking. In the past two years, mechanical engineering has risen 38 positions in the rankings, while electrical engineering rose 20 points in the same time frame.

“Our goal is to move into the list of top-tier colleges of engineering,” Ashok Saxena, dean of the College of Engineering, said. “Our departments are taking us there one year at a time.”

Peer perception is a major component of the rankings method, and John English, chair of the industrial engineering department, said many of his department’s faculty members serve on prominent editorial boards, are doing review work on key research, and write hard hitting articles that are getting attention in professional journals. 

“Our ranking is recognition of the exceptional perceptions that people across the country have about our program,” English said.

The College of Engineering as a whole maintained its overall ranking of 113, but Saxena said he is most encouraged by the growth of the departments.

“I am pleased with the progress made by our college in a very short time and even happier that we are getting better each year,” Saxena said. “Rankings influence the perception about our quality and are a measure of our success in implementing continuous quality improvement processes that make us truly better at serving each of our constituencies.”

Joe Rencis, chair of the mechanical engineering department, said the jump in rankings in his department was the result of recruiting high-caliber students, offering a challenging curriculum and providing top-notch research opportunities through the recruitment, development and retention of outstanding faculty.